Auto-increment indicies

[Richard Davies]

I�m running version 1.0.2 (Home and Business Edition, i.e. no XBASIC) on a Windows 98 system.

I haven�t included an auto-increment number field in my database, but I know that Alpha automatically allocates a number to each record as it is entered anyway. Is it possible to access this index so that the values it contains could appear in a field on a form or browse? Or is there a way of auto-numbering each record without using XBASIC, and getting access to these values in the same way?

On a related point, is it possible to get hold of a copy of XBASIC for this early version of Alpha 5 now?

Also, I saw a patch on this forum for an upgrade to version 1.0.3. Is this a better version than 1.0.2?

Thank you,
Richard Davies

[Tom Henkel]

RE: Auto-increment indicies

As far as I know, there is no separation for home and business versions in ver 1.02. X-basic is Always available.

Each record, when entered is assigned a record number. this can always be referenced by the expression recno(). If you look at any index selection dialog, you will see ""record number"" as the first index to select. On a form or browse, I would create a calculated field and set it to recno(). This is usually a 10 digit numeric field.

...and, yes, you can set up your own auto increment fields using field rules.

If you were to describe your needs a little further, I could probably suggest a way to do what you want.

Tom

[Richard Davies]

RE: Auto-increment indicies

Dear Tom,

Thanks for your help with this. Although I found the record number index just where you said it would be, things have a got a little more complicated since then! Basically I was trying to create a child database linked to an already-existing database using a number field as the linking field (the number field would contain the record number, hence my original query). I soon realised that this wouldn�t work because the child database was empty and so the parent couldn�t link to it. I also saw the sentence in the manual that said that it was best to create any parent /child structures right at the start of the design process. If only.....

What I�ve decided to do now is to create a sub form on the main database that will contain the associated data I need to record.

Thanks for your help once again,
Richard

PS I definitely haven�t got XBASIC. When I go into script editor it tells me I need the XBASIC enhancement module.

[Al Buchholz]

RE: Auto-increment indicies

Richard

Have you given a thought to upgrading to the latest version of Alpha? You'll find it much easier to work with and the home version lists for only $99.00

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Auto-increment indicies

Richard

You can create a set at any time. The child table does not have to have any records, as they can be added from the set. However, I would never link tables based on the record number. The record number is not a fixed value. If you delete a record and pack the table, all record numbers after the one deleted change. Then all of your child records would no longer find the correct parent. It is much better to use a dedicated ID type field with autoincrement on that field. I think the manuals should show how to create the initial values in the ID field and start the autoincrement.

Jerry

[Tom Henkel]

RE: Auto-increment indicies

The only thing I don't like about autoincrement fields in this version is that they seem to only increment based on the record number index. If I am using case number as my primary index, and I want to auto increment a field based on the next case number, I have a problem in that if I enter case # 422, then later, enter case # 421, my autoincrement field for case # 421 would be greater than the field for case # 422. There are mre times than not where I want the autoincrement based on a particular index, not record number.